Mumps Outbreak Continues to Spread at Hudson Valley College

The number of students with the Mumps continues to spread at a local college. There is still a probable case of the mumps at a nearby high school.

As of Tuesday, the SUNY New Paltz Student Health Service confirmed 29 cases of the mumps on campus. Several members of the college swim team and one athletics staff member have been inflicted, the colleges says.

The number of cases continues to rise. Last week the college confirmed 23 cases of the mumps, the week prior it was 15, the week before 13.

The affected students, who have been immunized against mumps, are being isolated for the recommended period of time. Immunizations work but are not 100% effective, officials say.

Twenty students who haven’t been immunized have been sent home until Dec. 25, which follows the Ulster County Health Department and the New York State Health Department guidelines, officials say.

“All SUNY New Paltz students are required to provide documentation of two measles, one rubella and one mumps immunization or provide documentation of a religious or other exemption,” Jack Ordway, M.D. SUNY New Paltz Student Health Service director stated. “According to the New York State Health Department, students enrolled in less than six credits do not need to provide immunization records.”

In late Oct. SUNY New Paltz announced 9 members of the college swim team contacted the mumps.

The college canceled all SUNY New Paltz intercollegiate swim meets until 2017.

Campus tours and general information sessions will continue on campus as scheduled.

Last week, the Ulster County Health Department reported that there is a probable case of mumps at New Paltz high school. An unnamed student was in close contact with a SUNY New Paltz student, who was previously diagnosed with mumps and was fully immunized.

Because the high school student was in close contact with a New Paltz middle school student and an elementary student, officials fear the entire New Paltz school district is at risk of an exposure to the mumps.

Mumps is caused by a respiratory virus. Symptoms include painful swelling of the salivary glands near the ears and under the jaw, fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue and decreased appetite.

The transmission of mumps is through close contact, sharing of utensils, drinking glasses, and kissing.